Effects of Poultry Manure, Household Waste Compost and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

To observe the comparative effects of poultry manure, household waste compost and fertilizers and their combinations on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.), this experiment was conducted in the crop field of the Department of Soil Science, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh during Rabi season in 2010-2011. There were ten treatments, one control and nine fertilizer combinations. In three separate treatments, NPK, household compost and poultry manure were applied alone. In three treatments, NPK and compost were used in different proportions. In three other treatments, NPK and poultry manure were combined together. Maize seeds were sown in the month of January, 2011 in lines 75 cm apart. Seed to seed distance was 25 cm. The results indicated that all the fertilizer treatments improved growth as shown by the number of leaves, length of root and shoot, dry weights of root and shoot. Better growth under fertilizer treatments resulted in higher yield of the crop. But there were significant differences among the fertilizer treatments. For example, the highest yield (6.65 t ha -1 ) was obtained in the treatment with poultry manure alone and with 25% NPK + 75% poultry manure. These two treatments increased yield of maize by 579 percent over the control (no fertilizer). NPK alone (120 kg N, 60 kg P and 80 kg K) also increased yield but by 309 %. The treatment 50% NPK + 50% poultry manure increased yield by 499 %.